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Reducing Regional Disparities through Regional Integration

Reducing Regional Disparities through Regional Integration. Saman Kelegama Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Various Methods can be In-Built to the RTAs/FTAs to address Regional Disparities. Special & Differential Treatment Revenue Compensation Creating Special Development Funds

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Reducing Regional Disparities through Regional Integration

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  1. Reducing Regional Disparities through Regional Integration Saman Kelegama Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

  2. Various Methods can be In-Built to the RTAs/FTAs to address Regional Disparities • Special & Differential Treatment • Revenue Compensation • Creating Special Development Funds • Investment Liberalization

  3. Special and Differential Treatment • Larger “Negative List” offered to less developed countries • Tariff phasing out: less developed countries offered a longer period • Rules of Origin: relaxed in favour of less developed countries

  4. Differentiating the Tariff Liberalization Programme (TLP)

  5. Negative List Differentiation: RTAs/FTAs in South Asia Notes: a. For LDCs 1249 items; b. For LDCs 763 items; c. For LDCs 1301 items. Source: Respective agreements.

  6. Rules of Origin Differentiation: RTAs/ FTAs in South Asia Source: Respective agreements.

  7. Mechanism for Compensation of Revenue Losses (MCRL) • Problem due to lost MFN tariff revenue as a result of tariff removal under SAFTA • Weaker tax bases in LDCs make tariffs revenue more important for them • MCRL important to ensure meaningful concessions by LDCs • Formula used in SAFTA is as follows:

  8. Problems of MCRL • The MCRL takes time to come into operation (SAFTA-4 years) • There is no inbuilt incentives for LDCs to devise alternative domestic mechanisms to raise revenue • No inbuilt incentives for non-LDCs to provide technical assistance for compensation • Unreliability of customs data could affect efficacy of MCRL

  9. Development Fund • SAARC EPG Report (1998) recommended US $ 500 mn for establishing a South Asia Development Fund [SDF] (with major contribution from the more developed member countries, and possible outside sources) • SDF now established with major contributions from India. Funds could be utilized for supply-side development of LDCs • EU – Fund was available for Ireland, Portugal, etc. • GMS under ADB support for supply sector development of Southeast Asia

  10. Development Fund • For those RTAs where there are ‘observers’, they can be invited to contribute to the Development Fund • In Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’s there is an ‘Economic Cooperation’ window where the more developed country can assist through concessional credit lines to develop the supply side of the less developed partner

  11. Investment Liberalization • SAARC EPG report argues for creating a SAARC Investment Area • Intra-regional investments can assist in creating supply capabilities • Investment integration can facilitate industrial restructuring to assist in building supply capabilities in relatively smaller and lesser developed economies

  12. Investment led Supply Development • There is substantial potential in increasing intra-regional trade and efficiency-seeking restructuring of industry and creating supply capacities in relatively lesser developed members • South Asia Scenario: Emergence of regional hubs: Sri Lanka for rubber-based industries; Bhutan for forest-based industries; Bangladesh for energy-intensive industries, India for IT, etc (RIS, 2008)

  13. Investment led Development • By facilitating development of supply capabilities in smaller and lesser developed countries in the regional groupings, the industrial restructuring leads to balanced regional development. • ASEAN Investment Area, ASEAN Industrial Cooperation, etc., are partly based on this idea

  14. Investment led Development • Less developed countries (viz. Spain, Portugal, Greece, Ireland in EU) are the key beneficiaries of integration through industrial restructuring and building of supply capabilities • Sri Lanka has benefited from Indian investment in increasing export and supply base development • Faster growth and convergence of levels of development can be achieved

  15. Unilateral Offers/Voluntary Methods • Larger/developed country can make unilateral offers in trade. In SAFTA, India offered duty free entry for SAARC LDC goods subject to a negative list with effect from 1.1. 08 • BIMSTEC liberalization is based on the 3 + x formula, where those members that are reluctant to join at the beginning, can join when they are ready

  16. Thank You • www.ips.lk

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